Introduction:
The Star Wars franchise has been captivating fans all around the globe since its inception in 1977. With a plethora of movies, TV shows, books, and comics, the franchise has expanded far beyond the original trilogy. In recent years, fans have been wondering about the proper order to watch the Star Wars movies. Specifically, when it comes to Rogue One, which was released after the original trilogy, fans are unsure where it fits into the overall timeline of the Star Wars universe. In this article, we’ll discuss the different orders to watch the Star Wars franchise and determine what order Rogue One should be watched in.
The Chronological Order:
The first order to watch the Star Wars franchise in is chronological order. This starts with Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which was released in 1999. Continuing from there, the order goes as follows: Episode II: Attack of The Clones (2002), Episode III: Revenge of The Sith (2005), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Episode VI: Return of The Jedi (1983), Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Watching the movies in chronological order allows you to experience the Star Wars universe in the order that it happens in the timeline. You get a better understanding of the characters, their motivations, and the overall story. However, some fans argue that watching them in this order subtracts from the original trilogy’s magic, and it can be confusing to follow the story.
The Release Order:
The second order to watch the Star Wars franchise in is release order. This starts with Episode IV: A New Hope, which was released in 1977. Continuing from there, the order goes as follows: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Episode VI: Return of The Jedi (1983), Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II: Attack of The Clones (2002), Episode III: Revenge of The Sith (2005), The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), The Last Jedi (2017), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Watching the movies in release order allows you to experience the franchise in the way that audiences did back in the day. You experience the magic of the original trilogy and the excitement of the prequel trilogy. Some fans argue that watching them in release order is the best way to watch them as it was intended by the creators.
The Machete Order:
The third order to watch the Star Wars franchise in is the Machete Order. This was created by a fan named Rod Hilton online in 2011. The order goes as follows: Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Episode II: Attack of The Clones, Episode III: Revenge of The Sith, Episode VI: Return of The Jedi. The fan then added Rogue One: A Star Wars Story after Episode III and before Episode IV. The Machete Order doesn’t include The Phantom Menace, which some fans argue is not essential to the overall story.
The Machete Order is said to be a great order to watch the movies in as you get the full experience of the original trilogy and the exciting conclusion to the prequel trilogy. Adding Rogue One before Episode IV adds context to the story and makes it all the more exciting to watch.
What Order Should You Watch Them In?
With the three orders outlined above, which one should you watch? Ultimately, it depends on your preference. If you want to experience the entire timeline and follow the characters from the very beginning to the end, you should watch them in chronological order. If you want to experience the franchise in the way that it was intended by the creators, then watch them in release order. If you want a mix of both, then watch them in the Machete Order.
What Order Should You Watch Them In If You Haven’t Seen Them Before?
If you’ve never seen any of the Star Wars movies before, you should watch them in release order. This way, you get to experience the original trilogy’s magic and follow the story in the way that it was intended by the creators.
What Order Should You Watch Them In If You’ve Seen Some Of Them Before?
If you’ve seen some of the movies before, you should watch them in the Machete Order. This way, you get a full picture of the franchise, but you’re not watching movies that you’ve already seen before. This order includes all of the essential movies and adds Rogue One to the mix to add context to the story.
Conclusion:
There are three orders to watch the Star Wars franchise in, and each one offers a unique viewing experience. It depends on your preference on which one you should watch. However, If you’re new to the franchise, you should watch them in release order. If you’ve seen some of them before, watch them in the Machete Order. The bottom line is that no matter what order you watch them in, the Star Wars franchise remains a timeless classic that is sure to excite and inspire audiences for generations to come. May the force be with you.